International Journal of Botany Studies

International Journal of Botany Studies

ISSN: 2455-541X, Impact Factor: RJIF 5.12
www.botanyjournals.com
Volume 2; Issue 2; March 2017; Page No. 10-15

Effect of different fertilizers on seed germination and seedling growth of sunflower (Helianthus
annuus L.) from district Bhimber of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan
Muhammad Shahzaman, Muhammad Ishtiaq, Azhar Azam
Department of Botany (Bhimber Campus), Mirpur University of Science & Technology (MUST), Mirpur, AJK, Pakistan

Abstract
In this research, impact of different fertilizers on seed germination and seed growth of Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) was
determined in year 2012. In the study, different doses of DAP, Urea and farm yard manure (FYM) were employed on
experimental trials conducting in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) in campus experiment grids. Highest
germination rate was determined for Urea (87.5%) and followed by FYM (85%). For growth parameters Urea depicted
maximum rate of shoot length (34.62 ± 0.15) at 30 days and for manure it’s was 31.70 ± 0.22. After 30 days, root length was
12.88 ± 0.23 and 16.10 ± 0.43 after 60 days. Number of leaves were Urea 10.37 ± 0.37 and in DAP number of leaves were 8.50
± 0.54. In plant samples, fresh weight (FW) of was highest 18.0 ± 0.21 at 30 days and 60 days its FW was 27.67* ± 0.29. Dry
weight (DW) of leaves was highest (4.03 ± 0.07) and least in control sample (3.10 ± 0.09). FW of roots was found highest in
Urea and followed by FYM (43.00 ± 0.86), while DW of roots was maximum in Urea fed sample (10.80 ± 0.23). These results
depicted that urea is best fertilizer for germination of seedlings of sunflower and second one is FYM fertilizer. The vegetative
growth (shoot, root and leave length) was highest in experimental plots of in urea fertilizer. This research presents that different
combinations of fertilizers may produce better results and further research is required.

Keywords: sunflower, bhimber, farmyard manure, fertilizers, RCBD

Introduction plying key role in the home resources of edible oil,

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) over the years has emerged
as an important ornamental and oilseed crop in the world. It is
a successful crop both in irrigated and in rain fed areas and
grow well, when planted in areas with adequate sunlight,
light–textured and well drained sandy loam soil. World area
under sunflower cultivation is 22.3 million hectares, with seed
production 27.7 million tons (Adebayo et al., 2012) [12]. The
assembly of sunflower seeds in the world increased from 26
to 31 million metric tons between 2004 and 2006 (FAO,
2007) [5], whereas total production of sunflower oil in world
was 10 million metric tons from 2005 to 2007, being
overtaken only by soybean, canola and palm (USDA, 2007)
[15]
. During 2009-10, the area under Sunflower crop in
Pakistan was 872 thousand acres with seed and oil production
of 554 and 211 thousand tons, respectively (GOP, 2010) [6].
Pakistan has been facing severe shortage of edible oil for last
so many years. It is producing about one third of its edible oil
necessities and the rest is met through import at a cost of
about Rs. 60 billion per annum (MINFAL, 2008) [9]. As
Pakistan is a developing country, more than 67% its total
population is living in rural areas and their earning are mainly
depends on agriculture (Bhutto et al., 2007) [3]. Recently it is
considered as bio diesel plant (Pereyra-Irujo et al., 2009) [11].
It is a God gifted plant for humankind. It plays a dynamic role
with multiple characteristics in human life. Sun flower has
much importance which attracts the researcher to study it. It is
considered as highly economic plant, because oil is obtained
from its seeds which are exported to increase the economics
of the country.
About 35% of the total oil requirements are met from
domestic assembly and 65% from imports. The cotton seeds
contributing 67% of domestic production. Canola is after
cotton seeds which contribute about 19.6% while rest of
13.4% is contributed chiefly by sunflower. The total area
under cultivation in Pakistan is 20.69 million ha. Out of this
area 16.48 million ha or 79.65% is irrigated. In 1970- 71
oilseeds occupied about 3% of the total cultivated area but it
is decreased to 2.5 % by 2002-03 due to a low oil seeds
production. The edible oil necessities are compensating
through imports. As a result the imports bill rose from Rs. 77
million in 1969-70 to Rs. 3900 million in 2002-03 over
burdening the economy of country (Shah et al., 2005) [13]. Sun
flower contains 40-50% edible oil and 15-21% protein. In the
last few years, sunflower oil has also occupied special
recognition based on non-food purposes. It is feasible as bio-
diesel or as vegetable-based fuel for many vehicles or
instruments including farming equipments (Pereyra-Irujo et
al., 2009) [11].
The sunflower plant has a hairy stem, wide and thickly
toothed rough leaves and rounded heads of flowers. The
heads comprises of numerous individual flowers which
mature later into seeds, often in the hundreds on a vessel like
bottom. The substantiation thus far is that the sunflower was
primary domesticated in what is now the southeastern United
State approximately 5000 years ago and perhaps introduced
into Mexico at an early on date as supplementary crops such
as maize were exchanged. The most primitive acknowledged
examples of entirely domesticated sunflower have been
grouped in Tennessee around 2300 BC. Many native people
of United Sates used the sunflower as the figure of their astral
idol together with Aztecs and the Otomi of Mexico and
the Incas in South America. In early 1510 Spanish explorers
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International Journal of Botany Studies
encountered the Helianthus anus in the Americas and carried
its seeds back to Europe (Putt, 1997) [12].
In an assessment found that in 100g of Sun flower seeds
contain 560 calories (energy), 24.0g protein, 4.8g H 2O, 47.3g
fat, 3.8g fiber, 4.0g ash, 19.4g total carbohydrate, 120mgCa,
837mgP, 7.1mgFe, 30mgNa, 920mgK, 30mg carotene
equivalent, 1.96mg thiamine, 0.23mg riboflavin, 5.4mg niacin
and 0 mg ascorbic acid. As for as, the matter of seed is
concern, it contains about 25–35% of oil. On the behalf of
chemical analysis of oil, about 44–72% linoleic acid and 13–
20% protein of high natural value and digestibility is found.
Stems and husks are loaded with potash. Flowers have 12.7%
protein, 13.7% fat, 64.3% carbohydrate, 32.9g fiber, 9.3g ash,
630mg Ca, and 80mg P in 100g. Sunflower oil has a rich level
of linoleic acid, intermediate level of oleic acid and very low
level of linolenic acid (Dorrell, 1981) [4].
Fertilizer is an organic or inorganic material of biological or
artificial (man-made) source (other than liming material)
which is given to a soil to supply nutrients essential for
growth in plants (SSSA, 2011). A fresh consideration found
that about 40% - 60% of crop yield is attributable to
commercial use of fertilizer. The market value of
European/western fertilizer is estimated to grow up to €15.30
billion in 2018. Mined in-organic fertilizers have been used
for numerous centuries; whereas the Chemically Synthesized
In-organic Fertilizer (CSIF) was extensively developed only
during the industrial revolt. The usage of fertilizers was
significant practice in the pre-industrial British Agricultural
Revolution (BAR) and the industrial Green Revolution (GR)
of 20th century (Stewart, 2005). Fertilizers are typically
provided in different proportions. Plants need macro nutrients
such as Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), Potassium (K),
Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg) and Sulphar (S). Similarly
Seven micro nutrients like Boron (B), Chlorine (Cl), Copper
(Cu), Iron (Fe), Manganese (Mn), Molybdenum (Mo) and
Zinc (Zn) are essential for plant growth.
The macronutrients are addicted in bigger quantities and are
present in plant tissue from 0.15% - 6.0% on a dry matter
(moisture) basis (DM) while micronutrients are addicted in
smaller quantities and are present in plant tissue on the order
of parts per million (ppm) ranging from 0.15 to 400 (ppm)
DM or less than 0.04% DM. The nitrogen rich fertilizer
NH4NO3 is used also as an oxidizing agent in improvised
unstable devices, sometimes known as fertilizer bomb (Mills,
1996). If the plants are present in dissolved chemical
compounds then they can absorb their required nutrients
easily. China, USA, France, Germany, Brazil, Canada,
Turkey, UK, Mexico, Spain and Argentina are advance user
of fertilizer, respectively (UNFAO, 2009).
Fertilizers are broadly divided into two types such as organic
fertilizers which is composed of organic plant or animal
matter. It includes naturally occurring materials e.g. chicken
litter, manure, worm castings, compost, seaweed, guano, bone
meal or biologically occurring mineral deposits saltpeter etc,
while inorganic fertilizer is manufactured in market and also
known as chemically synthesized, artificial or commercial
fertilizer (Karin et al., 2005) [7].
The under vision of research was to conduct study on “effect
of different fertilizer i.e. Urea, Manure and DAP on seed
germination and seedling growth of Sun flower and to find
out that which fertilizer is supporting its growth rate”. The
key purpose of this research is to improve the production of
“Sun flower in order to improve the economy of country”.
Materials and methods
Experimental site
Experimental field was selected in experimental land of Deptt
of Botany, MUST Bhimber Campus in District Bhimber of
Azad Kashmir. Study was conducted to observe the effect of
different fertilizer on seed germination and seedling growth of
Sunflower during August to October, 2012.
Soil Analysis
The soil analysis was done before sowing the seeds from Soil
Testing Laboratory of Agriculture Department in Bhimber
and soil constituents of study area were calculated.
Seed Collection and Experimental Design
The process of seed collection was completed with suitable
arrangements of seeds from the Department of Agriculture in
Bhimber. Healthy types of seed were selected for
experimental work. The experiment is done in Randomized
Complete Block Design (RCBD). This design is suitable and
easy to obtaining the data from field and more better to study
the effects of treatment in physiology. Plots were irrigated
according to the requirement of water. Weed management
was undertaken once in a week.
Fertilizer Application
Three different types of fertilizers were given to observe the
effect on seed germination and seedling growth of Sun
flower. Fertilizers were mixed with soil and applied in each
plot equally in quantity. The Types of fertilizer used were as:
1. Animal Manure (Organic) 500g
2. Urea (Organic) 500g
3. DAP (Inorganic) 500g
Four replicates were used for each treatment. All these
fertilizers were applied at the time when seeds were sown.
Effect of Fertilizer on Seed Germination
In order to find the effect of fertilizer on seed germination, the
timings of seed germination in experimental plots were
observed carefully. After collection the data, it was further
analyzed statistically to determine the % of seed germination.
Effect of Fertilizer on Seedling Growth
In order to find the effect of fertilizers on seedlings growth
the measurement of length and weight of different plant parts
were recorded carefully. The dry and wet weight of leave and
root were recorded with help of electrical balance while the
length of shoot and root were recorded with the help of
centimeter scale. All the data were tabulated for further
analysis.
Statistical analysis
The data from each experimental field were subjected to
appropriate statistical analysis. The one way analysis of
variance (ANOVA) at 5% level of significance was done as a
procedure given by Fisher Yates in 1963.
LSD test was used to compute the smallest difference
between the means of all values at 5% level of significance by
following formula,
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International Journal of Botany Studies
LSD = t α/2(υ)
Two plants from each replicates and over all eight plants from
each treatment were selected randomly. Then mean values
were taken and the final values were recorded as mean
±standard error mean.
Results and Discussion
Study was conducted at in Department of Botany, MUST,
Bhimber Campus in district Bhimber of Azad Kashmir during
cropping season August-to-October 2012. This experiment
was undertaken to find the effect of application of different
fertilizers on seed germination and seedling growth of
Helianthus annuus L. The experimental field was situated at a
place where sun continually shined without any side
disturbance. The environmental condition remained suitable
for the field during research. The soil analysis was done in
Soil Testing Laboratory of Agriculture Department in
Bhimber before sowing. According to analysis the soil of the
area is loam and heavy loam. pH ranges from 6.2 to 6.6 %,
organic matter ranges from 1.9 to 2.15 %, percentages of
phosphorus ranges from 10 to 16 %, potash ranges from 160
to 200 % and saturation capacity of soil is 42 to 45 %.
Seeds were collected from the Department of Agriculture in
Bhimber. A healthy type and the best available quality of seed
were selected for experimental work. A kind of Sunflower
Hysen-33 was used in experiment. Experimental field was
cleared and ploughed to make soft seedbeds. It was in
Randomized Complete Block Design which was 160 inches
(400cm) in length and 100 inches (250cm) in width
(160×100). The field was consist of 16 plots arrangement,
each with 40 inches long and 25 inches width (40×25). Seeds
were in the depth of 1-1.5 cm in soil. Plots were irrigated
according to the requirement of water. Weed management
was undertaken once in a week.
In order to observe the typical role of fertilizer in the seed
germination and seedling growth of sun flower, application of
three different types of fertilizers were given in a proper
manner. Its application showed a significant improvement in
different plant parts. Plant depends upon nutrients available in
soil for their proper growth. The depletion of nutrients badly
effects upon productivity of plants. Fertilizers provide these
nutrients. The source of these nutrients is either organic or
inorganic. In this under vision research both organic and
inorganic fertilizer were used. The Types of fertilizer used
were
i) Animal Manure (Organic) 500g
ii) Urea (Organic) 500g
iii) DAP (Inorganic) 500g
Four replicates were used for each treatment. The quantity of
fertilizers which was given to each sub-plot was 125 g.
Twelve (12) plots were treated with three different kinds of
fertilizers, while remaining four sub-plots were kept as
control group. The fertilizer was given with completely
randomized manner. All these fertilizers were applied at the
time when seeds were sown. The use of fertilizers in soil
positively affected the seed germination process. It is noted
that with all type of fertilizers the percentage (%) of
germination enhanced as compared to control. 40 seed were
sown in each treatment. Urea was more significant when
compared with other two fertilizers. After Urea, Manure
showed maximum germination. DAP was at number 3 rd
among fertilizers used in field experiment. The timing of seed
germination in experimental plots was observed carefully.
The total number of seed germinated and their possible
percentage is given in Table 1.
The fertilizer amendments significantly affect the seedling
growth. It was observed that fertilizer increased the different
plants parts but organic fertilizers showed the best results as
compared to inorganic fertilizers. The different plant parts
were measured with suitable measuring instruments in order
to find out the effect of different fertilizer amendments. The
shoot length was measured with the help of centimeter scale
after 30 and 60 days. The level of significance is 0.05. The
LSD value is different in both 30 and 60 days readings. Error
degree of freedom is 12 while error mean square is 0.373 and
1.89, respectively (Table 2).
The present study is conducted to determine that which type
of fertilizer can be more efficiently used for the sunflower
crop. After careful experiments, different results are found
with different treatments. As shown in Table 1, the maximum
germination is noted in Urea fertilization application plot
trial. As mentioned earlier that total 40 plant seeds were sown
in each treatments and from those forty plants 35 plant
seedlings oozed out in urea. After urea, 34 plant seedlings
were germinated in manure while 31 seedlings were grown in
DAP and 29 plants germinated in control group. Similarly,
some variations and fluctuations were found in their time of
germination. The seeds treated with urea germinated after 10
days while those treated with manure after 12 days. But there
is no differences in the timing of seed germination between
DAP and control group. Seeds germinated after 14 days in
both these groups. It was further conformed that the fertilizer
is not only significant in seed germination but also in
seedlings growth and development. To get more accurate
findings, the measurements of physical parameters of
seedlings and plants were taken twice after 30 and 60 days.
LSD is calculated and taken as standard value to compare the
other fertilizer with control group.
When shoot length was measured, there was significant
difference among fertilizers on shoot length of each sampling
plant. The maximum length of shoot noted with the
application of urea i.e. 34.62 cm after 30 days and 72.19 cm
after 60 days while manure showed 31.70 cm and 69.06 cm
shoot length after 30 and 60 days, respectively. There was no
significant difference between DAP and control group in
shoot length as describe in Table (3). Similarly, maximum
length of each plant parts were noted after application of urea
i.e. root length 12.88 cm and 16.10 cm (Table 3), number of
leaves 10.37 and 16.81 (Table 3), fresh weight of leaf 18.0 g
and 32.65 g (Table 3), dry weight of leaf 4.03 g and 7.67 g
(Table 5), fresh weight of root 44.22 g and 91.70 g (Table
6),dry weight of root 10.80 g and20.12g (Table 7) were
recorded after 30 and 60 days, respectively. After urea,
manure was a significant fertilizer when compared with
control i. e. shoot length with manure 31.70 cm and 69.06 cm
noted after 30 and 60 days, respectively. Manure is another
organic fertilizer which supported plant growth.
In a same way in other plants parts manure showed significant
results as compared to DAP and control group: 69.06 cm and
14.20 cm root length (RL), 9.25 and 14.75 number of leaves
(NL), 16.82 g and 27.67 g fresh weight (FW) of leaves, 3.90 g
and 6.93 g dry weight (DW) of leaves, 43.0 g and 86.71 g
fresh weight (FW) of root, 8.91 g and 16.22 g dry weight
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International Journal of Botany Studies

(DW) of root were recorded in manure after 30 and 60 days,
respectively. In this present study these two fertilizers urea
and manure significantly affect the seedlings growth of sun
flower. When a comparison is done within these two, urea
was significant as compared to manure but overall it was
noted that these two are significant as compared with DAP
and control.
There was no significant difference shown between DAP and
control. It is noted that mostly readings were some time same
or very close to each other. i.e. As shown in Table 8 the shoot
length 27.58 cm and 63.83 cm in DAP while 27.42 cm and
62.14 cm in control were measured after 30 and 60 days,
respectively.
Similar findings were recorded in other plant parts with these
two treatments: 9.01 cm and 12.15 cm root length, 8.50 and
13.50 no of leaves (NL), 15.22 g and 25.36 g fresh weight of
leaves, 3.10 g and 6.51 g dry weight (DW) of leaves, 41.10 g
and 79.81 g fresh weight of root, 9.17 g and 16.20 g dry
weight of root were recorded with the DAP treatment while
27.42 cm and 62.14 cm shoot length, 8.46 cm and 11.40 cm
root length, 8.00 and 12.70 number of leaves, 12.72 g and
22.17 g fresh weight of leaves, 3.10 g and 6.41 g dry weight
of leaves, 38.65 g and 78.28 g fresh weight of root, 8.55 g and
15.53 g dry weight of root were recorded with control group
after 30 and 60 days, respectively. Over all urea and then
manure remained significant among the fertilizers and
showed maximum growth in vegetative parts of sunflower.
These findings then compared with work of researchers done
in past.
Similar findings shown by Adebayo et al., (2012) [12]. They
investigated that addition of organic amendment increased
both vegetative and yield of sunflower. They found that
maximum values of plant height were recorded with organic
manure.
Shanthi et al., (2012) [14] investigated that effect of urea on
height of sunflower plants and concluded that urea play
significant role in shoot length. Similar findings have been
noticed in current study where urea showed significant effect
on plant height. The reasons for same findings of current
studies with those of past findings are may be due to same
physical factor or soil conditions.
The results of under vision study are in agreement with those
findings reported by Ali et al.,(2001) [2] who found that the
stem height (shoot length) gradually increased with increase
of nitrogen containing fertilizers (organic fertilizer).
Nasim et al., (2011) [10] stated that the improvement in the
crop growth rate may be attributed to more vegetative growth
due to N fertilizer application (organic fertilizers). These
results validate the findings of Miralles et al., (1997) who also
indicated the positive effects of nitrogen on crop growth rate
of sunflower crop. This research work is strongly correlated
with above findings because urea is one of the nitrogen
containing organic fertilizers which revealed its significant
effects on crop growth rate.
Conclusion
It can be concluded from the above discussion that
application of urea and manure (organic fertilizer) produced
better growth in sunflower crop. The amendments of urea and
manure fertilizer will increase the production of sunflower
greatly if applied properly. Further research is considered
necessary to study the effects of different fertilizers on seed
germination and seedling growth of sunflower and to explore
the impact various combinations of fertilizers on biomass and
seed production yield that may be indicating gross increase in
oil production from crop.

Table 1: Effect of different fertilizer on seed germination

Effect on seed germination
Fertilizers
Number of seed germination Percentage of seed germination Time of germination (Days)
Urea 35 87.5% 10
DAP 31 77.5% 14
Manure 34 85.0% 12
Control 29 72.50% 14

Table 2: Effect of different fertilizers on shoot length of Helianthus Table 3: Effect of different fertilizers on root length of Helianthus
annuus L. annuus L.
Shoot length of Helianthus annuus L. (cm) Root length of Helianthus annuus L. (cm)
Parameters
Parameters After 30 days After 60 days After 30 days After 60 days
Urea 12.88* ± 0.23 16.10* ± 0.43
Urea 34.62* ± 0.15 72.19* ± 1.0 DAP 9.01** ± 0.39 12.15** ± 0.38
DAP 27.58** ± 0.40 63.83** ± 0.12 Manure 10.91* ± 0.39 14.20* ± 0.15
Manure 31.70* ± 0.22 69.06* ± 0.89 Control 8.46** ± 0.51 11.40** ± 0.47
Control 27.42** ± 0.38 62.14** ± 0.25 EDF 12 12
EDF 12 12 EMS 0.626 0.578
EMS 0.373 1.89 LSD (0.05) 1.21 1.17
LSD (0.05) 0.94 2.11 EDE=Error Degree of Freedom, EMS= Error Mean Square,
EDE=Error Degree of Freedom, EMS= Error Mean Square, LSD=Least Significance Difference α (0.05), each value is the mean
LSD=Least Significance Difference α (0.05), each value is the mean ± Standard Error Mean of 4 replicates.* and ** represents significant
± Standard Error Mean of 4 replicates.* and ** represents significant and non-significant respectively.
and non-significant respectively.

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International Journal of Botany Studies

Table 4: Effect of different fertilizers on number of leaves of Table 8: Effect of different fertilizers on dry weight of roots of
Helianthus annuus L. Helianthus annuus L.
Number of leaves of Helianthus annuus L. Dry weight of roots of Helianthus annuus L.(g)
Parameters Parameters
After 30 days After 60 days After 30 days After 60 days
Urea 10.37* ± 0.37 16.81* ± 0.12 Urea 10.80* ± 0.23 20.12* ± 0.35
DAP 8.50** ± 0.54 13.50** ± 0.35 DAP 9.17** ± 0.48 16.20** ± 0.19
Manure 9.25** ± 0.95 14.75* ± 0.66 Manure 8.91** ± 0.66 16.22** ± 0.27
Control 8.00** ± 0.20 12.70** ± 0.42 Control 8.55** ± 0.58 15.53** ± 0.44
EDF 12 12 EDF 12 12
EMS 0.828 0.771 EMS 1.13 0.438
LSD (0.05) 1.40 1.35 LSD (0.05) 1.63 1.01
EDE=Error Degree of Freedom, EMS= Error Mean Square, EDE=Error Degree of Freedom, EMS= Error Mean Square,
LSD=Least Significance Difference α (0.05), each value is the mean LSD=Least Significance Difference α (0.05), each value is the mean
± Standard Error Mean of 4 replicates.* and ** represents significant ± Standard Error Mean of 4 replicates.* and ** represents significant
and non-significant respectively. and non-significant respectively.

Table 5: Effect of different fertilizers on fresh weight of leaves of References

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International Journal of Botany Studies

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